Fluff Dragon

by Platte F. Clark

  The summons had arrived just as the high mage had slipped from the ocean and made her way to the Tower. That she found Rezormoor at the door waiting for her was a surprise. Picking up the creature called the Kraken along the way was another. Strange things were afoot.

  When the Maelshadow arrived, his shapeless form like a flight of shadows against a dying flame, the four bowed as the temple’s acolytes disappeared with their snack trays in hand.

  “The unicorn has turned,” the Maelshadow announced. “We must now move to capture the Codex without her.”

  “It has already been accomplished,” the high mage said. “The Codex rests in the Dwarven vaults. I’ve seen it myself—as I have the one who can read it.”

  “My agents tell me two armies came together at the Mor Luin border,” the guild master added. “Two armies in pursuit of the Codex, gone missing from the dwarfs once again.”

  “I—” the high mage began, unsure what to say. She had seen the book transported to the vaults herself. It was impossible that it could have been taken.

  “Tell me of the blood of Sporazo,” the Maelshadow said to the high mage. Either the Lord of Shadows already knew the book was missing, or he was hiding his anger well.

  “I could scarcely believe it,” she replied, “having stood before him. He is but a boy, Techrus born and soft. And he travels with a strange group of associates.”

  “A mentor?” the Maelshadow asked, his voice deep and cavernous. “Who has taught him?”

  “None that I could see,” the high mage replied.

  “And yet he sought out Bellstro,” the Maelshadow added. Rezormoor hadn’t heard that name for a very long time, but the rumors of the old wizard were plentiful. What might the boy have learned from him? It was a troubling thought.

  “They managed to defend themselves from a Shadrus necromancer,” the Lord of Shadows added. “Not something easily done.”

  “I don’t know what you’re all so afraid of,” the Kraken growled. “I know Max Spencer and his friends. They’re dorks.”

  “Well, thank you for that,” Rezormoor added, “but anyone who reads from the Codex of Infinite Knowability should not be taken lightly.”

  “And where is this boy now?” the Maelshadow asked. It was the guild master who answered.

  “As you know, the Mor Luin lords are blessed with an abundance of hair. Sadly, I have few agents there. Yet I can tell you they are traveling home now, with an army at their back.”

  “The boy may seek to take refuge in Ledluin,” the high mage said. “A logical choice to hole up in the capital. Very well defended.”

  “Or he may make for the Crystal Sea,” Rezormoor added. “From Dun he could take a ship to anywhere in the Seven Kingdoms.” The sorcerer paused, a question plaguing him. “But may I ask, how is it that the Lord of Shadows has come to know the unicorn turned?”

  “I’m not in the habit of explaining myself,” the Maelshadow said. “But the proximity of the Gossamer Gimbal allows me certain insights into the one who carries it.”

  “I see,” the sorcerer replied.

  “Mage,” the Maelshadow announced, “take your aquatic form and wait outside the port of Dun. If they travel by sea, intercept them and bring them to me.” Rezormoor cursed under his breath. That was not the deal Rezormoor had struck with the Lord of Shadows, but he decided there was no point bickering about it now. He’d simply have to find the boy first.

  “Guild Master,” the Maelshadow continued, “put out the word to all your agents, in every city. Find this boy if he travels by land.”

  “I will do as you command. Our agents will pour like water over shampooed hair.” The Kraken rolled his eyes, wanting more than anything to toss the hair freak from the highest window.

  The Maelshadow fluttered in annoyance as well, before returning to the topic at hand. “And Rezormoor, keep this Kraken with you in Aardyre. The moment you hear from the guild, send him forth.”

  “A most judicious strategy,” Rezormoor said.

  “Fail me and you will all suffer eternal pain,” the Maelshadow announced. Rezormoor bowed and left with the others—the Codex of Infinite Knowability was drawing closer to him. He could almost feel it. He probably also had time for a shampoo and rinse.

  Max spent a fitful night tossing and turning. He dreamed of the Magrus, only it was covered in ice and snow. Against the endless white stood a figure in black armor—armor that radiated power like a living thing. Death swirled about him as black mists rose and mingled with the chilled air. As he moved, the trail of black followed like a smoky shadow. Max looked down at his feet and saw more on the ground than just snow—the plain had been scattered with long frozen bones. Dragon bones, he somehow knew. Then the scene changed and Max was standing at the base of a white tree, its silver leaves playing a magical song despite the cold wind blowing through its branches. The armored man approached and the singing turned to cries as gray veins formed beneath the bark and began to rot. Max turned away, frightened, silver leaves falling around him like giant snowflakes. He sensed the armored man had come to a stop near him, towering over him. Black smoke stretched like probing fingers around his feet.

  “All will fall,” came a voice echoing through the closed helm. And in a final shudder of leaves the armored man disappeared. For the briefest of moments, Max looked up and saw between the realms. The city of Madison stretched out before him—home! But none there could see the armored man descend toward the sleepy town, or the dark clouds that began to gather overhead.

  Max woke with a start and instinctively grabbed for the Codex. Moki muttered something and turned over, but Puff blinked, sensing Max was awake. “Are you all right?” the fluff dragon asked.

  “I had a dream,” Max said, the vividness of it holding fast in his mind.

  “A magical dream?” Puff asked.

  “I think so, yes.”

  “Ah, I used to dream like that. Before I became this,” Puff said, pulling at a lock of fluff.

  “It wasn’t a good dream. It was horrible.”

  “A vision of things to come?” Puff guessed.

  “How did you know?”

  “You lay your head near the Codex of Infinite Knowability. Dragons could dream of such things. It’s an opportunity to change what will be.”

  “The world was frozen and all of the dragons were dead,” Max said slowly. “And then a man in black armor went to a silver tree and somehow used it to cross into my world.”

  “The Tree of Attenuation,” Puff replied.

  “So everything I saw could actually happen?”

  “Yes,” Puff answered. “Now you know the cost if you fail.”

  Max sighed. “I never asked for this.”

  “Heroes rarely do.” Puff laid his head back down and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, Max did the same. But sleep did not come.

  The next day they arrived in Dun. It was a thriving port city with a large bay and numerous docks filled with trading vessels loading and unloading their wares. But unlike other port cities, Dun had a more law-abiding reputation, thanks in part to the heavy-handed oversight by the Mor Luin lords.

  “This is the fastest route to the Tower,” Conall announced as a small contingent broke from the main army camp and led Max and his friends into the city. The king had continued north to Ledluin, wishing Max luck and instructing his son to buy their passage to Aardyre. The king had remained distant with Max following the Princess episode, and Max was somewhat surprised every morning to find that she and Magar hadn’t taken off during the night.

  “Perhaps the unicorn simply wishes to escort you to the very place you are going anyway,” Conall suggested. “You the willing and unknowing captive.”

  “Ah, if only I were half as devious and conniving as the Mor Luin nobility,” Princess responded.

  By the time they reached the docks, the smell of salt hung heavy in the air, and Conall sent Sir Maron to secure their passage.

  “So what is our plan, exactly?” Sarah
asked. “To just arrive at this Aardyre city and walk to the Wizard’s Tower, and then ring the doorbell?” She was being sarcastic, and Max never liked it when Sarah was sarcastic, because it usually meant she was onto something.

  “We’ll go at night,” Dirk said. “We blend in and sneak our way into the Tower.”

  “Blend in?” Princess asked, looking at the group. “A Tower wizard, a unicorn, two fire kittens, three Techrus-born humans, and a fluff dragon?”

  “She does have a point,” Sarah said.

  Sir Maron returned, pointing at a trireme that was being loaded with barrels. It was tall, with several masts, and had three rows of oars on each side. “The Murky Merman,” he announced. “Bound for Lanislyr and Aardyre. She’ll take us aboard.”

  “Thank you,” Max said. “You really have helped us a lot.”

  “My pleasure,” the prince said with a smile. “And you always have a friend in Mor Luin if you need one.”

  They said their good-byes and boarded the Murky Merman. Loki and Moki had warned Max that they needed to stay in his backpack or else risk getting tossed overboard. The captain, a heavyset man sporting a black beard with a patch of white running up the middle, grunted at them to mind their manners and stay out of the way. It wasn’t long before the ship was loaded and set sail.

  “I take it we’re not booked in first class,” Dirk said to the others. They were lined against a long rail, watching as the harbor shrank away. Princess was holding tightly to the railing and looked unhappy.

  “Unicorns hate the water,” Magar offered in her defense.

  “And yet they do like rainbows,” Dirk replied, thinking it over. “Very interesting.”

  Princess scowled at him as a sailor hustled by, pulling at the rigging that helped lift the sails.

  “Bad omens today,” he announced in a strange accent. “The fishermen have all left. See?” He pointed to the empty bay. “Something has scared the fish away.”

  “What could do that?” Sarah asked.

  “Monsters, of course,” the man answered, looking at Sarah like it was the most obvious answer in the world. Sarah had to remember that in the Magrus things worked a bit differently. People took the idea of a monster as a literal truth.

  “Probably some hybrid shark thing,” Dirk added. “Yeah, sharks are cool.”

  Puff looked at Dirk. “Has anyone ever had him checked out? You know, in the head?” The others laughed. The crew had given the fluff dragon a few odd looks when he boarded, but they were paid to mind their own business.

  By late afternoon, Dun had largely disappeared. The ship then turned north, following the coastline. Everyone but Princess and Magar had gone below to their “room,” which turned out to be a small space carved out from the forward storage. Puff left to explore the ship while Max placed the fire kittens near three hammocks stacked in a tight row. He did his best to climb into the lower one, having a hard time with the swaying ship. Dirk scrambled to the top like he’d spent his entire life in the navy.

  “Oh, did you want the bottom?” Max asked Sarah once he’d finally gotten in. Sarah laughed—she wasn’t about to make Max try and get into the middle one.

  “No, I’m fine. I’m not really that tired,” she replied.

  “Okay. Just let me know if you change your mind.” Max closed his eyes and listened to the rhythmic slapping of the oars and the accompanying creaks and groans of the ship. The wind must have died down and they’ve gone back to rowing, Max thought. But soon he drifted to sleep—there was something about the rolling ship that made him awfully tired.

  A heavy thump rocked the ship. Max sat up with a start and spilled out of the hammock, crashing on the floor below.

  “You okay?” Sarah asked, sounding nervous. “Did you hear that?”

  “I’m fine,” Max answered, getting to his feet. “Yeah, I heard it. How long was I out?”

  “Not long.”

  A second thump hit with enough force that the entire ship lurched forward. Max nearly crashed into Sarah as he struggled to remain on his feet. Something very big had come into contact with the ship. Moments later alarm bells began to sound.

  Max grabbed his backpack as Dirk swung down from the top hammock.

  “Whoa!” he cried out. “Something’s hitting the ship!”

  “What’s going on?” Loki said, poking his head out of the bag.

  “We don’t know,” Sarah answered, the nervous energy of the group filling the small room.

  “Probably sharks,” Dirk said.

  “I like—” Moki began, but Loki pushed his companion back into the backpack and pulled the drawstring closed.

  “Just don’t leave us down here, okay?” Loki pleaded from inside the backpack.

  The third thump cracked wood and sent them sprawling. Water began to seep through the floor from the damaged hull as more alarm bells began ringing in earnest.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here!” Max cried. He flung the backpack over his shoulder and followed Sarah and Dirk out the door.

  The sounds of panicked activity grew louder as they made their way to the deck. They could hear the frightened shouts of sailors as they called out orders. One came running past and nearly bowled them over.

  “Don’t tell the captain you’ve seen me,” the first mate shouted as he descended into the lower parts of the ship. “He’ll want to promote me!”

  Max and his friends reached the deck just in time to see a long tentacle slither back and disappear on the other side.

  “Oh, not a shark,” Dirk noted. He almost sounded disappointed.

  The ship lurched violently to the side as three more tentacles came flying overhead, cracking the main mast in two and collapsing the quarterdeck with an explosion of debris. Max managed to grab hold of some of the rigging, seeing that Sarah had done the same. Dirk, however, slid across the deck before landing in the remains of one of the fallen sails.

  A sudden blast of cold air caused Max to look up. Magar was standing over him and firing magical ice at one of the tentacles. The wizard had his hands held out in front of him and was muttering something under his breath. When he struck it, the appendage shot into the air and disappeared back into the sea.

  “A cone of cold!” Dirk shouted, having seen the magic spell as well. “Awesome!” Dirk scrambled to his feet as the ship righted itself. He ran back to Max and Sarah.

  “He’s totally a higher level than you are,” Dirk said to Max, as if that was somehow helpful. Max was about to say something when the ship pitched violently in the other direction. They grabbed on to the falling rigging as the monster wrapped itself around the hull and smashed the deck with more giant tentacles. One managed to find Magar as he was scrambling toward the remains of the main mast. The blow sent him flying over the side of the ship and into the sea below. Max looked down, seeing water streaming past his feet as he felt his balance begin to shift.

  “Who’d have guessed rope climbing in gym would pay off?” Dirk shouted, looking far more comfortable hanging in the ropes than Max. Max ignored him and closed his eyes, concentrating on not letting go. The ship continued to roll dangerously on its side, and Max could hear the shouts of sailors falling overboard. His arms began to burn as he felt his fingers slipping.

  “Max, hang on!” Sarah shouted. And Max wanted to—he really, really did. But he just wasn’t strong enough, and everything was wet and slick. With a gasp, he lost his hold on the rigging and slid down the front of the deck. He could see the ocean over the rail as he fell toward it. Max turned on his stomach, facing Sarah and Dirk, who were watching with horrified expressions as he slipped away from them. His mind leapt to the Codex at his side—an instinctive action. He’d once floated himself above a pyramid, and if there was ever a time that called for floating in the air it was now. But again Max felt nothing. Then the deck disappeared beneath his feet and he prepared to hit the water.

  But he didn’t.

  He came to a sudden stop, hanging in his backpack straps. Max craned
to look over his shoulder and saw Moki and Loki hanging on to the wooden deck rail, their claws embedded in the wood and the rough canvas of his pack. And as the ship rolled, the other side rose high into the air.

  “Hang on!” Loki moaned, struggling to keep himself and Max from falling off the edge.

  Max saw the ocean beneath his dangling feet and more of the monstrous creature that was attacking the ship. It was huge, with large eyes and rows of giant, gnashing teeth.

  Loki and Moki slipped, their claws leaving trails in the wooden rail.

  “You’re too heavy!” Loki cried.

  “Weee!” Moki exclaimed, the peril of it somehow lost on the fire kitten.

  “Don’t drop me!” Max screamed. He felt helpless hanging in the backpack straps. A shadow passed over him as a tentacle crashed into the ship while several sailors tumbled off the edge. The fire kittens slipped more, their claws barely holding on to the last bits of the wooden rail. Loki closed his eyes and dug in with all he had. He wasn’t trying to be a hero—his entire future was hanging below him, and he couldn’t bear losing it. Then, just when he had no more strength left, the ship began to roll in the other direction.

  “We’re going up!” Max shouted. The monstrous creature and the ocean fell away from him. They were moving fast—maybe too fast. The ship slammed back into the water and continued pitching in the opposite direction. Max and the two fire kittens were catapulted over the railing and into the tangle of rigging and broken sails at the ship’s center.

  “Enough!” came a cry that Max recognized as coming from Princess. He heard a giant SNAP as if someone had torn a chunk out of the sky, followed by a flash of light. The growl of a thundercloud rolled over the ship as electricity sent every hair on Max’s arm standing on end.

  Princess was standing near the foremast, the storm she’d summoned dancing around her, whipping her hair as the sky filled with dark clouds. Lightning crackled and danced in the boiling blackness above.